Abstract
Abstract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of totally impermeable film (TIF) and virtually impermeable film (VIF), generally used in fumigation, in increasing soil temperature during greenhouse solarization treatment in comparison with a commonly used LDPE film. Preliminary laboratory measurements of the perpendicular spectral transmittance of these film were performed in solar (200-2500 nm) and infrared (2500-25,000 nm) wavelength ranges. Subsequently, a field trial was carried out in Sicily in a multi-span tunnel greenhouse, with a steel structure, covering a 90.0 m × 24.0 m surface of sandy soil. Four treatments were performed on 3 m × 24 m plots arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. For each replication, one plot was left unmulched as control, and three plots were mulched with TIF, VIF, or LDPE film. The solarization treatments were performed from 17 July to 6 September 2015. During all trials, soil temperature was measured at 5, 15, and 30 cm depths. Air temperature, air relative humidity, and total radiation flux were measured outside and inside the greenhouse. The results show that TIF and VIF both have better spectroradiometric properties than LDPE film and that the soil temperatures at 15 and 30 cm depths under TIF and VIF were significantly higher than the temperatures under LDPE film. These results encourage the use of low-dosage fumigation followed by solarization for control of soil pathogens to obtain further reduction in the amount of fumigant used. Keywords: Greenhouses, Soil solarization, Totally impermeable film (TIF), Virtually impermeable film (VIF).
Published Version
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